This Election Day, we could all use a little 'Hairspray'

Pete Chianca

Monday

Nov 5, 2018 at 2:48 PMNov 5, 2018 at 3:11 PM

North Shore Music Theatre's "Hairspray" has a message that all of us could use right about now.

I’m no piker when it comes to “Hairspray.” The movie, at least -- my daughter Jackie was 8 when that came out in 2007, and we spent several rainy afternoons (Two? Three? It’s all a blur of bouffants at this point) that summer at the multiplex taking in repeat viewings.

But I’d never seen a professional stage version until yesterday at North Shore Music Theatre, and first off, my face still hurts from smiling so much -- director/choreographer Jeff Whiting and an amazing cast make the absolute most of Marc Shaiman’s buoyant faux-’60s score, to deliver one bring-down-the-house number after another. (Read the Wicked Local review here.) Of course, I expected as much from NSMT -- they do good work over there.

What I didn’t expect, exactly, was to be as moved as I was by the show’s admittedly very simple take on tolerance and inclusivity. Back when my daughter was 8, “Hairspray” heroine Tracy Turnblad’s attempt to integrate the Corny Collins dance show struck me as a good way to introduce her to the ideas behind the Civil Rights Movement -- without getting into some of the uglier parts she may haven’t been ready for.

But seeing NSMT’s version on the eve of an Election Day that has seen hatred and divisiveness seething from behind every headline, I’m thinking it’s a message that all of us, of any age, could use right about now.

This could help explain the audience reaction to Altamiece Carolyn Cooper’s take on Motormouth Maybelle’s signature number, “I Know Where I’ve Been,” the centerpiece of Act 2. It’s a showstopper under any circumstances, and Cooper had the pipes and presence to bring it to the next level with her powerhouse delivery.

But given our current moment, it was hard not to feel a resonance that went beyond the action on stage when Cooper belted out:

“There's a struggle that we have yet to win.Use that pride In our hearts to lift us up until tomorrow.Just to sit still would be a sin.”

I remember when we first saw “Hairspray,” the movie, my daughter was a fan in particular of Little Inez, who in the film version (spoiler alert!) overcomes racism to be named “Miss Hairspray.” I’d like to think that was because the film’s simple message of equality and tolerance reinforced things Jackie had already learned at home. Or maybe she got it all from “Hairspray.”

Regardless, this year she’s voting -- and I’m happy she’ll have childhood heroes like Tracy Turnblad and Little Inez in her heart when she does.

You can bring your future voters to “Hairspray” through Sunday, Nov. 11 at North Shore Music Theatre, 62 Dunham Road in Beverly. More info at nsmt.org.